Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Offers a combination of psychological research with examples from real life, various kinds of fiction, and of many different kinds of heroes

Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Description

Abraham Lincoln, Princess Diana, Rick in Casablanca--why do we perceive certain people as heroes? What qualities do we see in them? What must they do to win our admiration? In Heroes, Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals offer a stimulating tour of the psychology of heroism, shedding light on what heroism and villainy mean to most people and why heroes--both real people and fictional characters--are so vital to our lives. The book discusses a broad range of heroes, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino, Senator Ted Kennedy, and explorer Ernest Shackleton, plus villains such as Shakespeare's Iago. The authors highlight the Great Eight traits of heroes (smart, strong, selfless, caring, charismatic, resilient, reliable, and inspiring) and outline
the mental models that we have of how people become heroes, from the underdog who defies great odds (David vs. Goliath) to the heroes who redeem themselves or who overcome adversity. Brimming with psychological insight, Heroes provides an illuminating look at heroes--and into our own minds as well.

Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Heroes: Who They Are and What They Do [example: Eleanor Roosevelt]Chapter 2: Exemplars: How We Think and Feel About Heroes [example: Randle Patrick McMurphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]Chapter 3: Redemption: Doing the Right Thing [example: Lincoln, re emancipation]Chapter 4: Obstacles: Triumph Over Adversity [example: Ernest Shackleton]Chapter 5: Evil: For Every Hero There is a Villain [example: Iago]Chapter 6: Shaping: How Heroes and Villains Shape Us, and How We Shape Them [example: James Dean]Chapter 7: Conclusions

Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Author Information

Scott T. Allison is Professor of Psychology at the University of Richmond.

George R. Goethals holds the E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professorship in Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond.

Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

Reviews and Awards

"An important contribution to the literature on schemas, social cognition, and
self-identity." -PsycCRITIQUES

Heroes

What They Do and Why We Need Them

Scott T. Allison and George R. Goethals

From Our Blog

In the second episode of The Oxford Comment, Lauren and Michelle celebrate geekdom. They interview a Jeopardy champion, talk sex & attraction with a cockatoo, discover what makes an underdog a hero, and "geek out" with some locals.